West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-11-24
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.


emitted by all the stars upon the surface
OF the globe as equal to oue-tenth Of
the light of the full moon.
The famous gold and silver work
which gave Damascus reputation
throughout the world is said to have
fallen into decay. Fine goljsmith's
work is no longer asked for, aud all that
Europe seems to require arc cheap spcci
mems of ilvcr-platod filagrec work, such
as bracelets, brooches and armlcts.
The following is a list of the heaviest
hammers in Europe from an historical
point of view; FIR. Krupp, Essen, 1868,
forty tons; Tcrni Works, Italy, 1873,
fifty tons; Crcusot France, 1887. eighty
tons; Cockerill, Belgium, 1885, one
hundred tons; FIR Krupp, Essen, 1886
one hundred and fifty tons. The last
is NV tho heaviest steam hammer in
the world.
The carrying capacity of railway cnr
ot ten tons has been figured on by some
body, who gives this as n result: Wheat,
$40 bushels; corn, 400 bushels; pota-
toes, 43O lushcls; apples, $40 bushels;
oats, $50 bushels; lumber, 6000 feet;
butter, 20, 900 pounds; flour. 80 barrels;
whiskey, 60 barrels; wood, cords;
cattle, 1S to 20 head hogs, 90 to GO
head, and sheep, 80 TO 100.
Professor Gould has asccrtaincd that
aerial telegraph wires on poles transmit
electricity at the rate OF from IA, 900 TO
10000 miles per second, and that The
velocity OF transmission increases with
tho distance between the wires and the
earth, or, in Other words, with the height
of suspension. SubtcrranCan wires, like
submarine cabcs, transmit slowly.
Whcatstonc experiments IN 1888 seemed
to show q velocity Of 2SS, 900 miles per
second, but this result has never been
confirmed.
The experiment OF fishing with cleo
trio lamps enclosed in glass globes ms n
lure to the prey has not as yet proved a
success. A vessel thus equipped re-
Gently made cruise to the isle Of Man.
The lamps were sunk with the b ,nm of
the net TO the depth of iorty or fifty
fathoms, the glass globe having been
three cighths of an inch thick, lut the
pressure Of the water was too great for
the glass which broke, and the lights
went out. Experiments with stronger
glass are to be made.
Powdered glass is largely taking the
place OF sand in the manufacture of sand
paper. 1t Is readily pulverizcd by hcnt-
ing it rel hot and throwing IL into
water, the finishing being done in an
iron mortar. BY tho us, Of sicvcs OF
different sized meshcs. the powder is
separated into various grades. A strong
paper or muslin is Tackled Gown aud
covered with n strong size o. glue, the
surface covered with powdered g,ass,
and when tho glue is dry the surplus
glass is shaken or brushed Off.
Why is il that boat sailing before the
wind will not go as fast rs one sailing with
tho same wind on the qnartcrl II is
this says nautical authority: A boat
sailing before the wind can 20 no faster
than the wind that drives it, A boat
sailing with the wind on the quarter
has tho force of the wind continually
pushing it. That is, when the oat nc.
quircs speed equal TO tn t Of th1 wind
the force still bears upon its sails; as
one walking across current OF air will
always feel it, but when walking with
that same velocity with the current will
feel no wind.
Two interesting physical experiments
arc amusing French scientific men. In
tho first lighted candle il placed be.
hind bottle and the latter is blown
upon with the breath at distance of
about foot. The meeting OF the air
currents set in motion around the bot.
tic quickly extiDguishcs the flame,
though extinction would be impossible
If fat board or sheet OF cardboard
should be sub3ttutcd for the bottle.
For the second experiment two bottles
arc placed on table with space Of
half an inch between them. The can
die is set behind this space and from tho
same distance rs before, on the oppoJitc
side, tho breath is blown smartly against
the flame. Not only will the latter con-
tinuc burning, but it will incline
slightly toward the operator as il
through the effort Of suction. This
phenomenon, analogous 90 the first is
due TO the fact that portion OF the air
cannot pass between the bottles, and is
forced around them and back toward
the expcrimenter.